Slider for separable fasteners



G. E. PR'ENTICE SLIDER FOR SEPARABLE ms'rnmms Filed April 22, 1927 Z? 1? a J M ZQEI 513;; ,Zbwzey? memes Jan. 29, 1929.

UNITED STATES enonen n. PRENTICE, or BERLIN, CONNECTICUT.

smnnn non SEPARAIBLE nns'rnunns.

Application filed April 22,

Serial No. 183,875 filed April 22, 1927. I have disclosed a preferred process of making the slider herein claimed. v

The most common form of slider employed in fasteners of this type has spaced front and rear wings united at one end, the opposite faces of the wings having cam-like elements for guiding the opposed series of fasteners as they approach or recede. Certain attempts have been made to form such sliders by a die casting or similar process with the object of securing a rigid and durable construction, (the British patent to Kuhn-Moos, No. 14,358, January 19, 1912, apparently disclosing one example of this form of slider) but as this mode of procedure'is expensive and diflicult and the resulting slider is often unduly heavy and clumsy looking, sliders formed in this manner have not found favor, at least in this country.

The usual form'- of slider is made of sheet metal for the sake of lightness and ease of manufacture, but in order to obtain the necessary stiffness to withstand the strains'to which it issubjected it is substantially necessary to provide some type of reinforce to stiffen the slider, particularly at the neck or narrow part which unites the front and rear wings, so as to hold the wings in parallel relation and to prevent them from spreading or twisting. Heretofore it has been customary to make the ,reinforce member or yoke from one or more pieces of sheet metal, independent of the slider proper (that is to say the wings with their connecting neck) and'then, after bending or otherwise shaping the various parts, to assemble them and connect them by suitable fastening means, for example. rivets or solder. To prepare these several independent parts, to assemble them, and then to connect them necessitates the employment of several dies (for blanking, bending, ctc.),the careful assemblage by hand of a other operation necessary" permanently to unite them, and this long series of operations consun'les time and an unnecessary amount of material and unduly increases the cost of slider pllu'ality of minute parts, and the riveting or 1927. Serial N0. 185,874.

production. Since the complete fastener including the slider must be manufactured to sell at a-low price, it is-,essential to keep the cost of producing the slider as low as possible consistent with the production of an article of good quality.

In accordance with thepresent invention I have devised the novel slider such that the cost of material and labor for producing it is reduced to a minimum while at the same time the slider possesses all of the characteristics which are to be desired in a slider, that is to say, light weight, pleasing appearance, stiffness, durability, and ease of operation. This improved slider consists of but a single piece of sheet metal (not including the handle or pull device) so shaped and bent as to provide the front and rear wings with their connecting neck, the stiffening or reinforce member, a pull attaching element, and also such securing means as are necessary to hold the parts permanently in proper relation.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated by way of example certain desirable forms of my new slider as well'as certain steps in a preferred process of making the same. In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation showing a fastener of the general type above referred to, provided with a slider constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation from the lefthand side of the slider shown in Fig. 1, removed from the fastener elements;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section substantially on the line 33 of Fig' 2;

Fig. lis a vertical section partly in elevation substantially on the line H of Fig. 1 showing the slider removed from the series of fastener elements;

,Fig. 5 is a vertical section substantially onthe line ,5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the slider,

omitting the pull device;

Fig. 7 is a transverse section substantially on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5-; 4

Fig.8 is a rear elevati offormingthe slider have been completed;

on, on of the complete Fig. 15 is a fragmentary vlew illustrating a modified construction of the lower end of the blank shown in Fig. 9; and

Fig. 16 is abottom plan view showing the slider embodying the modifications shown in Figs. 14 and '15 together with other slight modifications.

In Fig. 1 the numerals 1 and 2 designate a pair of tapes or stringers to whose opposed edges the series of fastener elements 3 and 3 are secured. As here shown these fastener elements are of the general type disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 7 09,643, April 28, 1924, the fastener elements of each series constituting the individual turns of spiral. coils of wire, the turns of one coil being hooked and adapted to intermesh between the turns of the opposite coil and positively to interlock therewith in the man-- ner full described in my aforesaid copending app ication.

The form of slider disclosed in Figs. 2 to 13 inclusive is particularly adapted for use with fastener elements of the above character,

but if desired I may employ fastener ele-.

10-serijire alike. For use with fastener elements of this latter character I prefer to employ a slider of the modified construction shown in Fig. 16 as will be described more fully "hereafter. However, it is to be understood that so far asthebroaiprinciples of blank which is to make the front Wing some what wider than the part 5 which is making the rear wing, and by bending the'blank along lines 7 and 8 in Fig. 10, I produce the guide 1 flanges 7 and 8.

The flanges 7 and 8-constitute the outer guiding walls of the usual channels of the slider, and I preferably form the inner walls of these channels by providing the neck 6 With laterally extending tabs 9 and 10 which may be bent along their lines of union with the neck proper so as to form the inner guiding elements 9 and 10, as indicated in Fig. 3, for example.

I provide openings 11 and 12in the parts 4 and 5 at points spaced from but adjacent to the neck 6 and I also preferably provide an aperture 13 adjacent to the free end of the part 4*. I

The. free or lower end of the wing portion 5 of the blank is provided with an extension 14 adapted to constitute the reinforce member of the slider, and certain other parts to be described. This extension or reinforce member 14 is preferably of more orless lozenge shape and is provided witha central opening 15, preferably of diamond or generally similar shape. This opening thus divides the extension 14 so as to form the spaced strip-like portions 16 and 17 which diverge from each other and which are united at their ends to the'strip-like portions 18 and 19 spaced from each other and which converge and unite at their lower ends. I provide inwardly directed tabs 20 and 21 extending into the opening 15 from the opposite edges thereof and substan t-ially at the Widest portion of the opening. Preferably these tabs incline downwardly and converge toward each other as shown n Fig. 9 for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

the present invention are c'oncerfidfitnwqlh l nds of the strip members 18 and and rear wings 4 and-5 respectively united by a relatively narrow neck portion 6 and in these respects resembling in general the type of slider disclosed in the patent to Judson No. 788,317, dated April 25, 1905.

In preparing my improved slider I preferably proceed by first blanking out from sheet metal or other material ofa suitable thicknessa blank of substantially the shape shown in Fig. 9. This blank comprises the wide upper part 4, which is adapted to form the front wing 4 of the slider, united by the relatively narrow. part 6 which forms the neck of the slider, to the wide part 5 designed to form the rear Wing 5 of the slider as above described.

19 .mergeiiiitoa relatively narrow part 22 (whose width is substantially equal to the combined. widths of the parts 18 and 19), and as shown in Fig. 9 the part 22 ISPI'QVldGd at its end with a tongue 23 which is adapted, in the completed slider, to extend through the opening 13 at the free end or the front wing 4.

Having prepared the blank in this manner .the marginal edges-of the wing 4 may be i is "at right angles to the plane of the blank,

as also shown in Fig. 11.

. The next operation is to contract the extension portion .14 laterally so as substantiallyto close the opening 15, thus bringing the edges of the members 16 and 17 substantially into contact,the edges of the parts 18 and 19 substantially into conta'ct, and thetabs 20 and 21 into engagement. During this contraction of the extensior 14, the metal flows or draws, to such an extent that the tongues or tabs 20 and 21 assume the position shown in Fig. 11 in which they register with each other and stand at right angles to the face of the blank.

I next bend the blank back along the line 14 (which is substantially at the junction of the wing 5 with the extension 14) so as to cause the parts 16 and 17 to lie substantially in contact with the outer face of the wing 5.

As the parts are brought into this position, as indicated in Fig. 12, the tongues or tabs 20 and 21 pass through the openings 12 and 11 of the rear and front wings (such openings being in alignment) until the forward ends of the tongues 20 and 21 project, as shown in Fig. 12, beyond the front face of the front wing 5. I now bend these forwardly projecting ends of the tongues or tabs 20 and 21 prefer'ably in opposite directions, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 7, to cause them to lie substantial- 1y fiat against the front face of the front wing. If desired, I may secure these forwardly projecting ends of the tabs to the wing by means of solder or otherwise, although bending is simpler and the use of solder is not usually necessary. The tongues 20 and 21 thus arranged constitute a rivet or connecting means uniting the wings at a point spaced from but preferably adjoined to the neck 6 and adaptedto stiffen the wings and toprevent them from spreading when subjected to the strains incident to use. If desired, either before or after the tongues or tabs 20 have been passed through the openings in the wings, I may bevel the lower edges of these tongues or tabs, as shown at 20 in Fig. 3. Such beveling may be desirable since the tongues 20 and 21 not only act collectively as a rivet or connecting element, but they also function as a separator or guide, cooperating with the inturned tabs 9 and 10 to define the guide channels for the opposed series of fas-- tener elements. As indicated in Fig. 3 the tongues or tabs 20 and 21 are disposed between the lower ends of the tabs 9 and 10 so that these several elements in combination constitute a more or less wedge-shaped structure at the central part of theslider bodyv adapted in well known manner to cooperate with the fastener, elements as the latter are brought into engagement or are separated by the operation of the slider.

After the forward ends of the tongues of tabs 21 and 20 have been turned outwardly or otherwise secured, as above described, I next bend the blank along a line such as indicated at 144, Fig. 10, so as to cause a portion of the blank to overlie the upper surface of the,

neck'6, as indicated at 25 in Figs. 2 and 4. I now again bend the blank as along the line 14 (Figs. 10 and 13) so as to cause the portions 18 and 19 to lie substantially'parallel to the front wing 4. Preferably the bend 14 is at such a point that the parts 18 and 19 are spaced from the front surface of the wing 4, such parts 18 and 19, thus constituting a loop which is adapted to enter an opening 27 in the pull device 28. At this stage in the operation the pull device may be threaded over the end 23 of the blank, and afterbeing properly positioned upon the parts 18 and 19,-the end portion 22 of the blank with its tongue 23 is pressed inwardly toward the wing 4 until the tongue 23 passes through the opening 13. The end of the tongue 23 may then gle unitary piece of sheet material comprising the front and rear wings, the neck, the inner and outer guiding elements, the rivet for uniting the wings, and the retainer for the pull device, and as this single piece of mate-,

rial may be blanked out from a sh'eet at a single operation and requires but simple operations for reducing the blank/to the form of a completed slider, it isevident that it may be constructed at a minimum cost and by the employment' of relatively unskilled labor. At the same time this slider possessesall of the desired characteristics of a'commer cial form of slider, being light in weight, thin in a front to rear direction, stiff anddurable,

and capable ofworking smoothly in cooperation with the opposed series of fastener ele-w ments. i

In Figs. 14, 15 and 16 a slight modification is shown, the upper end 4 of the blank being indicated as provided with anextension 29 having tabs 30 projecting from its end. The lower end 22 of the extension member is shown as provided with notches 28 in its opposite edges but without the'tongue 23 above described. In assembling the. parts and after the slider elements have been. brought substantially into the position shown in 'Fig.

13, the tabs 30 are inserted in the notches 28 and are then bent or pressed inwardly,

as indicated in Fig. 16, thus firmly uniting the template as provided with marginal 13.

flanges 7 and 8, this construction being particularly adapted for use with fastener elelHCIltS of the general type shown in the British patent to Kuhn-Moos above referred to or in the copending applicagion of Prentice and Legat No. 91,932 Marc 1 3, 1926, but

so far as the broad invention is concerned it 1 is immaterial whether the slider be pro vidcd class described, sai-dsli-der having acne-piece body consisting of a single piece of sheet metal having parts which constitute spaced substantially parallel wings, a part united at its opposite ends to the respective win s and forming a neck, and a connecting mem er in integral continuation of the material of one wing, said connecting member extending fromone wing to the other at a point spaced from the neck and uniting the wings to prevent them from spreading, said connecting member also constituting a guide for the separable fastener elements,

2. A slider for separable fasteners of the class described, said slider having a one-piece body consisting of a single piece of sheet material comprising spaced wings united at one end by a neck, and a reinforce member integrally united to the free end of one wing and extending from said end up and around the neck and lengthwise of the other wing.

3. A slider for separable fasteners of-the class described, said slider having a one-piece body consisting of a single piece of sheet metal having parts constituting spaced substantially parallel wings united at one end by a neck, a member projecting from one of the aforesaid parts, and a guide carried by said projecting member, said guide being spaced them the neck and extending from one wing to the other.

4, A slider for fasteners having opposed series of fastener elements, said slider hav ing a one-piece body consisting of a single piece of sheet metal comprising spaced substantially parallel front and rear wings, a

. neck uniting said wings at one end, a flat reinfo'rce strip integrally united at one of its I ends only to the free end of one wing, said one-piece body consisting of a single reinforce device extending up and around the neck and being connected at its other end to the other wing.

-5; A slider of the class described having a P e of sheet material having parts respectlvely constituting front and rear wings, a neck,

guide elements, a reinforce'member, and a.

rivet projecting from the reinforce member through aligned openings in the wings. L

6. A slider of the class described having a one-piece body consisting of a single piece of sheet metal having parts respectively constituting front and rear wings, a neck, a reinforce member, and a rivet.

7. A slider of the class described having a one-piece body consisting of a single unitary piece of sheet material having parts respectively constituting front andrear Wings, a

of the wings, the wings and rivet being parts I of a single piece of sheet material. I,

9. A slider for fasteners having opposed series of fastenerelements, said slider having a body comprising-spaced substantially parallel front and rear wings, a neck uniting said wings at one end, and a flat rivet device having its broader faces parallel to the direction of movement of its slider, said rivet device uniting the wings to prevent, them from spreading, the rivet being in integral continuation of the material of one of the wings, all of-the aforesaid parts forming portions of a single piece of sheet material;v

10. A slider for separable fasteners of the class described, said slider having'a one-piece body comprising spaced wings united at one end by a neck and a pair of rivet members projecting through aligned openingsin the wings, means connecting each rivet member at one of its ends to one of the wings, the

opposite ends of the rivet members being se cured to prevent their withdrawal'fro n the openlng in the opposite wing, said wings, connectlng means and rivet members being integral parts ofa single piece of sheet .ma-

terial.

11. A slider for separable fasteners of the class described, said slider comprising spaced wings of sheet material united at one end by a neck, a reinforce member integrally united to the free end of one wing, said reinforce member extending along the outer face of said wing, over the outer surface of'the neck, and along the outer side of theother wing, and being connected to the latter wing adj acent to the free en'dof the latter.

' 12. A slider for separable fasteners of the class described, said slider comprising spaced wings of sheet material united at one end by a neck, aflat reinforce strip integrally united to the free end of one wing and extending along and in contact with the outer face of said wing, said reinforce strip then extending across to the opposite side of the slider and then along the outer surface of the other wing, the extremity of said reinforce strip being connected tothe free end of the latter wing.

13. A' slider for separable fasteners of the class described, said slider having a one piece body consisting of a single bent piece of sheet .end, and a flat reinforce strip integrally united to the edge of one of the aforesaid parts, said strip being bent to U-shape and embracing the neck and wings, said strip having the broader faces of its legs parallel to the planes of the front and rear wings respectively. V

15. A'slider for separable fasteners of the class describcd,'said sliderhaving a body comprising spaced substantially parallel wings, a neck uniting said wings, a reinforce member disposed adjacent to the outer surface of onewing, and a connector tab projecting from said reinforce member through an opening 1n I said wing and having its end engaging the outer surface of the opposite wing, all of the aforesaid parts being integral portions of a single piece of sheet metal.

16. A slider for separable fasteners of the class described, said slider comprising spaced wings'of sheet material united at one end. by

a neck, a reinforce member integrally united to the free end of one wing and extending from said end toward the neck, and a rivet tab int egrally united to said reinforce member, the rivet tab projecting through aligned openings in the wings.

17 A slider for fasteners'having opposed series of fastener elements, said slider having a body consisting of a single piece of sheet metal comprising spaced substantially parallel front and rear wings, a neck uniting said wings at oneend, and a reinforce strip united at one end to the-free end of the' rear wing, said strip extending from its connection to said win to the neck, -'a tab projecting forwardly rom said reinforce strip through openings in the rear and front wings, the end of the tab being turned over int-o engagement with the front surface of the front wing, the

reinforce strip extending forwardly along the neck and thenin parallel relation tothe front wing and having its end fixedly secured to the lower end of the front wing. I

' 18. A slider for separable fasteners of the class 'deseribed,-said slider comprising spaced wings of sheet material united at one end by a neck, a reinforce member integrally united to the free end of one wing and extending from said end toward the neck, and a pair ofv tongues constituting rivet members projecting from the reinforce member through aligned openings in the two wings, said tongues engaging one another and having respectively.

19. A slider class described, said slider having a bod consisting of a single piece of sheet metal and for separable fasteners of the their outer'ends turned in opposite directions comprising substantially parallel spaced wings, a neck unit-ing saidwings at one end,

a U-shaped reinforce strip embracing the neck and wings, and a rivet element integral With said strip and projecting from said strip through openings in the wings. j

20. A slider for fasteners having opposed series of fastener elements, said slider having a body consisting of a sin le piece of sheet metal'comprising spaced su stantially parallel front and rear wings, a neck uniting said Wings at one end, and a flat reinforce strip united at one end to the free end of the rear wing, said strip being slitted longitudinally and having a pair of tabs projecting forwardly in contacting relationfrom the edges of the slit, said tabs projecting through openengs in the rear and front wings, the forward ends of the tabs being securedagainst withdrawal from said openings, the tabs consti tuting a duplex rivet for unitingthe wings.

21. A slider for separable fasteners of. the class described, said slider having a body consisting of a single piece of sheet metal and comprising spaced substantially parallel wings, a relatively narrow neck uniting said wings, a reinforce stri substantially parallel to the outer face 0 one wing, said. strip being bifurcated'to form narrow juxtaposed bands, tabs projecting from the opposed edges of the respective bands, said tabs beingsubstantially perpendicular to said bands and extending through aligned openings in the two wings, the ends of said tabs being bent .over into engagement with the outer surface of theopposite wing.

22. A slider for fasteners havin opposed series of fastener elements, said vs ider hav ing a body consistingof a single piece of sheet metal comprising spaced substantially parallel front and rear wings, a neck uniting said wings at one end, and a U'-s l 1aped rein force strip having one leg extending substantially the entire length of the rear wing and its other leg substantially parallel to but spaced from the forward face of the front wing, said latter leg of the reinforce strip constituting a retainer for a pull device.

23. A slider for separable fasteners of the class described, said slider comprising spaced wings of sheet material united at one end by a neck, a reinforce member integrally united to the free end of one wing, said reinforce member extending along the outer face of said wing, over the outer surface of the neck, and along the outer side'of the other wing, the reinforce member being spaced from the latter wing to provide a pull attaching loop and having its free extremity turned in- Wardly and connected to the adjacent wing.

24. A slider for separable fasteners of the class described, said slider having a body comprising spaced substantially parallel wings united at one end by a neck, a reinforce member, a rivet uniting the wings at a point spaced from the neck, means disposed between the wings for guiding separable fastener elements, and means for retaining a pull device, all of the aforesaid parts being portions of a single piece of sheet metal.

25. A slider for separable fasteners of the class described, said slider comprising spaced wings of sheet material united at one end by a neck, a reinforce member integrally united to the free end of one wing and extending from said end toward the neck, tabs projecting from opposite edges of the neck,'said tabs being bent inwardly to form inclined. guides for the separable fastener elements, and a tongue projecting from the reinforce me1n-' ber through an opening in at least one wing,

' said tongue being disposed between the ends of said tabs.

26. A slider for separable fasteners of the class described, said slider comprisingspaced wings of sheet material united at one end by a neck, a reinforce member integrally united tongue projectinginwardly through one wing of the slider from the reinforce member, said tongue being disposed between the free ends of said tabs and being beveled at its edge to form a guide for the separable fastener eleents.

Q 27. A slider for fasteners having opposed series of fastener elements, such slider havinga body comprising spaced, substantially parallel front and rear wings, a neck uniting said wings at one end, a flat reinforce strip united at one end only to one of the wings and engaging the outer face of said wing, and means rigidly connecting the strip to the other wing, the aforesaid parts all forming integral portions of a single pieceof sheet material.

28. A slider for separable fasteners of the class described, such slider having a body comprising spaced, substantially parallel wings united at one end by a relatively narrow neck. one at least of the wings having inwardly directed marginal flanges, a guide element spaced from the neck and extending from one wing toward the other, and means connecting said guide element to one of the portions of a single piece of sheet material.

Signedby me at Berlin, Conn, this nineteenth day of April. 1927.

. GEORGE E; PRENTICE. 

